Sanding machine



Nov. 7, 1933. R. A. PoNsELLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4Sheets-Sheet l INV TOR l' ra@ [plug l/kbam/f ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1933. R.A. PoNsELLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1930- 4 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Nov.7, 1933. R. A. PoNsELLE SANDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1950 4SheeAtS-Sheel'. 3

ATTORNEY( R. A. PONSELLE Nov. 7, 1933.

SANDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 26, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 7,1933 SANDING MACHINE Robert A. Ponselle, New York, N. Y.

Application February 26, 1930. Serial No. 431,453

5 Claims.

This invention relates to sanding machines of the type in which apower-driven abrasive-covered tool forms the abrading element. Moreparticularly the invention is concerned with a power driven sandingmachine which is especially adapted for the treatment of oors and thelike and which contains many novel features of construction whichcorrect the faults of prior machines, eliminating noise and dust,preventing crooked cutting, and generally improving the efliciency ofoperation as well as lowering the cost of manufacture.

The sanding machine of this invention includes the usual operating drumwhich carries an abrasive sheet of sandpaper or the like covering itssurface. Thedrum is mounted on a superstructure carried on an axlesupported by a pair of wheels, and the superstructure Ais capable ofswinging on the axle so that the drum may bear with greater or lesspressure upon the floor surface and the superstructure is also free totilt about the longitudinal axis of the machine, so that the drum mayconform to irregularities in the floor surface. The drum is driven by anelectric motor which also drives a blower connected to a hood whichencloses the drum, the blower removing the sawdust cut from the floorsurface by the action of the drum and discharging the sawdust into acollector bag.

The motor employed is of standard construction and it is supported on amounting which permits the motor to be readily removed and also permitsvariation in the position of the motor so that the driving belt for thedrum can be maintained taut at all times. The hood which encloses thedrum is of novel construction and it is loosely connected to the machineso that its weight rests on the oor at all times during operation,y

the hood having an opening for the admission of air which is so placedas to prevent sawdust from escaping through the opening. The hood has awear shoe which contacts with the oor and is replaceable when it becomesworn.

For operating on floor surfaces adjacent Walls or partitions, the newmachine may be equipped with an additional drum also provided with ahood which may be connected to the blower. This smaller drum is readilyattached to the machine in operating position and may be as quicklydetached when its use is no longer required. The hood for the additionaldrum eifectively encloses the drum so that the blower may draw off thedust created by the operation of the drum and discharge it into the bag.

The new machine contains many other novel features of construction inaddition to those above described, such, for example, as a noveladjustment by which the pressure with which the drum bears against thefloor may be regulated,

a new handle mounting and various other features which will be madeclear in the detailed description to follow.

For a better understanding 'of the invention, reference may be had tothe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the invention inside elevation with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the machine illustrating the sideOpposite to that shown in Fig. 1, certain of the parts being removed orshown in section for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 7

Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with certain of theparts iuustrated 75 in section;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the machine when provided with the end drum,certain of the parts being illustrated in section;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the man- 80 -ner of connectingthe outlet from the hood for the end drum of the blower;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the machine with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the carriage of 85 the machine, with partsillustrated in section, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine 90 as illustrated comprises apair of supporting wheels 10 mounted on a transverse axle 11. Mounted onthe axle between the wheels is a carrier member 12 preferably made inthe form of a single casting, this carrier member being provided with aboss 13 in which is received a longitudinal supporting rod 14. Pivotallymounted on the axle at opposite ends of the casting are collars 15provided with extensions having sockets in which are received arms 16100 forming part of the handle. These arms extend to a yoke 17 providedwith a central boss 18 in `which is mounted a rod 19 which carries atits upper end a switch and fuse box 20 on the upper end of which ismounted a lug 21, from which handle bars 22 extend in oppositedirections. Mounted on the under surface of the switch and fuse box is areceptacle 23 for the plug 24 on the conductor cable 25. This cablepasses from the plug through an eye 26 in the end of an 110 arm 27pivotally mounted at 28 on the cover of the box, pins 29 being providedon the box, one on each side of the pivot pin so that the arm 27 may besupported so as to extend to either side of the switch box.

Projecting upwardly from one of the collars 15 is a lug 30, the end ofwhich lies close to the end portion of the casting 12. Threaded into thelug 31 on the carrier 12 is a screw 32 providedwith washers 33 and 33.The Washer 33 is mounted on the end portion of the screw which is ofreduced diameter and the washer is held in place by the nut 34. Thewasher 33' is threaded on the screw and is held in position by the nut34; the spring 35 bearing at one end against the washer and at the otherend against the adjacent face of the lug prevents the parts from beingturned by vibration so as to alter the adjustment. The washers are ofsufficient size to overlie opposite ends of the lug 30 and they limitthe swinging of the collar 15 about the axle 11. The screw 32 isadjusted in the lug 31 so that the washers lie free of the lug 30 whenthe handle is in proper position for the operator. When this adjustmentis made, the handle floats with a limited freedom of movement, and theoperator may move the handle up and down within this range withoutaffecting the pressure with which the cutting drum bears against theiioor, as will presently be explained in detail. The adjustment of thescrew permits variations in the normal position of the handle which maybe required for workmen of diierent heights.

The longitudinal supporting rod 14 is mounted loosely in the boss 13 onthe carrier 12. This rod is mounted rigidly in depending lugs 36, 36 onthe base member 37, the lug 36 receiving the end of the rod 14, whilethe lug 36' has an opening through which the rod passes. Mounted in aboss 38 extending downward from the plate 37 is a pin 39 which bearsagainst a foot 40 on the carrier 12. This pin is forced downwardly by aspring 41 against which bears the end of an adjusting screw 42 threadedinto the boss. The pin 39 with its spring assists in counterbalancingthe unbalanced weight of the plate, the motor and the other partssupported on the plate. While the motor is disposed approximatelycentrally of the machine, the center of gravity is at one side of thecenter of the machine due to the weight of the blower, of the drivingpulley on the motor shaft, etc.

A rod 43 having screw threads cut in its surface between its ends ismounted for rotation in the lugs.36, 36 and on the end of this rod is acrank handle` 44. Threaded on the rod is a nut 45 having an extendingarm 46. This arm has a slot 47 formed in its under surface, into whichextends a lug 48 on the boss. Upon rotation of the rod 43 by the handle44, the nut 45 is moved endwise of the rod and thus produces a relativemovement of the supporting rod 14 and carrier 12,. The position of theaxle 11 with reference to the center of gravity of the machine is thusvaried for the purpose of varying the pressure with which the operatingdrum bears against the floor surface, as will presently be made clear.

Mounted on the carrier 12 is a bracket 49 terminating in a pointer 50which cooperates In the bracket is adjustably mounted a stop screw 52adapted to bear against va block 53 on the under surface of the basemember 37. This stop screw limits the swinging movement of the basemember in one direction about the longitudinal axis o1' the machine. Y

Projecting upwardly at one end of the b member 37 is a boss 54 in whichis mounted a rod 55 carrying a block 56 at its upper end. Mounted inthis block is a rod 57 provided with heads 58 at its ends. Mountedpivotally on the rod are locking plates 59 provided with dowel pins 60projecting from opposedfaces of the two plates. These plates are forcedtoward each other by springs 61 encircling the rod, and the movement ofthe plates toward each other is limited by stop pins 62 mounted in therod.

The motor for driving the machine is of standard construction, providedwith the usual feet 63 across which is secured a plate 64. Secured tothe base plate between the feet is a yoke bracket 65, the ends of thearms 66 of the yoke being slotted so that these arms may straddle therod 57. In the outer face of each arm is a recess 67 in which a dowelpin 60 on one of the locking 100 plates 59 may be received. To place themotor in position, the locking plates are turned downwards, the motorturned upside down and the bracket placed above the rod 57. The lockingplates 59 are then spread apart against the force 105 of the springs 61and the yoke lowered until the rod 57 is seated in the slots in the endsof the arms. The locking plates are then released and the dowel pins 60enter the recesses 67. Since the locking plates 59 are loosely mountedon the 110 rod 57, the motor may swing on this rod as an axis. Disposedat one end of the base plate 37 is a slotted block 68 in which ispivotally mounted a lever 69 having a shoe 70, at one end of which themotor rests. Mounted in the block 68 is an 115 adjusting screw 71, thelower end of which bears against the tail 72 of the lever. By adjustingthe position of the screw, the shoe on the other end of the lever may beraised and lowered to raise and lower the motor about the rod 57 as 120a pivot.

Fast onthe forward end of the supporting rod 14 is a T block 73, inwhich is supported a rod 74 extending transversely to the rod 14. On theends of the rod 74 are rigidly mounted blocks 75, 125 75', the block 75having an arm 76 extending forwardly parallel to the rod 14. The block75 has a similar arm 76 extending forwardly and in the ends of thesearms is mounted the shaft 77 on which is mounted the sanding drum 78.This 13C drum may be of any suitable or convenient construction, but Iprefer to employ the drum shown in my co-pending application Serial No.243,235, led December 29, 1927. The cross-rod 74 with the block 75 andarm 76 forms a rigid support- 13E ing structure for the drum shaft, andsince the block 73 is fast on the rod 14 which is free to oscillate inthe hub 13 on the casting 12, it will be apparent that the drum is freeto tilt about the longitudinal axis of the machine to conform 14. toirregularities in the oor surface. Similarly since the rod 14 is mountedin the carrier 12 which is loosely mounted on the axle 11, the drum isfree to swing about the axle as a. center. The drum thus has a universalmounting and the 145 pressure with which it bears against the floor isdetermined by the position of the axle 11 with reference to the centerof gravity of the machine.

The drum is enclosed within a hood 79 made upA of two parts 80 and 81provided with ears 82 150 and 83, respectively, connected by pivot pins84. Each of the parts and 81 is of partial cylindrical form with endplates for enclosing the ends of the drum, and these end plates are cutaway to form elongated openings through which the drum shaft 77projects. The two parts of the hood areheld together by a snap catch 86and are also connected by a. spring 87 secured to pins on the end platesof the hood members 80 and 81. During operation of the machine, the twoparts of the hood are connected together by the catch, but when accessto the drum is necessary, the catch is released and the hood member 80swung on the pivot pins 84. The spring 87 is connected to the two partsof the hood in such manner thatwhen the parts are in the operativeposition illustrated (Fig. 2) the spring tends'to maintain the parts inthat position. When the hood part 80 is raised to expose the drum, thespring lies on the other side of the pivot point and serves to hold thepart 80 in open position. The hood terminates at its lower end in anopening dened on three sides by a rim 88 provided withA a removable wearbronze or other similar material.

In the operation of the machine, the hood lies with its entire weightresting on the rim 88 on the oor surface and formed in this rim is anopening 90 for the admission of air. vIn the machine illustrated, thedrum rotates in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow in Fig. 2and the opening 90 is formed in the rim which forms a part of the hoodmember 81. When the drum rotates in the manner referred to, the sawdustcut from the surface of the fioor by the abrasive covering of the drumis thrown toward the hood member 81 and the admission of air through theopening 90 placed in the hood member 81 results in the air picking upthe sawdust and carrying it out of the hood to the blower. The strongcurrent of air which is drawn through the opening 90 prevents anysawdust from escaping through the opening and at the same time insuresa. better pick-up of the sawdust than would be the caseif the air wereadmitted elsewhere.

The drum shaft is driven by a belt 91 preferably of wedge shape, thisbelt running over a pulley 92 on the motor shaft and a similar pulley 93on the drum shaft. If the belt becomes loose, it may be tightened byraising the motor by means of the lever 69 previously described.

Mounted loosely on the rod 74 at one side of the T block 73 is a yoke 94from which extends a rod 95 entering a boss 96 projecting from thecasing 97 of a blower of standard construction. A spring 98 encirclingthe rod 74 is arranged to swing the yoke to move the` blower away fromthe motor. The blower shaft is provided with a pulley 99 on which runs abelt 100 running on a large pulley i 101 on the motor shaft and thespring 98 tends to maintain this belt taut. When the belt is removed,the swinging of the blower is limited by a stop pin 102 on the yoke 94which contacts with a similar pin 103 on the block 75.

The blower is provided with an intake fitting 104 having an opening atone end closed by a door 105. Projecting from the fitting is a neck 106in which is mounted one end of a conduit 107 leading to an outletopening 108 formed as a part of the hood 78. The conduit is flexible andis preferably made of a canvas sleeve within which is disposed a spring109 which prevents collapse of the sleeve. The blower has an outletopening 110 to which is connected a conduit 111 leading to an elbow 112.This elbow is provided with an opening to which is connected a bag 113.This bag has a neck 114 which is received in the end of the elbow 112and'held therein by means of a set screw 115. The bag has an open endnormally closed by a clip 115. In normal operation, the bag rests on theupper surface of the plate 64 connecting the feet of the motor. Theconduit 107 is` flexible kand extensible so that it does not interferewith the rising and falling of the hood in accordance withirregularities in the floor surface.

When the machine is to be used for operating the floor surface adjacentto walls or partitions. a narrow drum 117, known as an end drum, isemployed. This drum is mounted on a shaft 118 threaded into the main endof the shaft 77. The drum is mounted for rotation with shaft 118 and itis provided with a disc 119 having dowel pins 120 which enter suitablerecesses in the outer face of the pulley 93 and serve to secure the drumto the pulley for rotation therewith. The end drum is enclosed in a hood121 mounted on a bracket 122 which is secured to the block 75. The blockhas an extension 123 with a boss 124 formed thereon and the bracket 122is provided with a boss 125 in which is mounted a pin 126 receivable inthe boss 124. On the boss 125 is a pin 127 which is receivable in theslot in a yoke 128 formed on the end of the block 75. To secure thebracket to the block 75', the bracket is swung so that the pin 127 isfree of the yoke 128. Then pin 126 is inserted in the boss 124 and thebracket swung so that pin 127 enters the slot in the yoke 128.Theposition of the hood 121 with reference to the floor can be adjustedby means of a screw 129 mounted in an arm 130 extending from the boss125 and bearing against a projection 131 from the block-75'. Bythreading the screw 129 in and out of the arm 130, the position of thebracket with reference to the axis of boss 124 may be varied and thusthe position of the hood with reference to the floor may be adjusted. Y

The hood 121 is provided with an outlet neck 132 connected by a iiexibleand extensible conduit 133 to a tubular fitting 134. This fitting may beinserted in the opening in the intake member 104 of the blower by thedoor 105 and the tubular member is of such length that when it isinserted in position, it extends across the end of the neck 106 andcloses that neck. The door 105 is mounted in tongues 135 formed on thefitting 134 and the door is provided with a lug 136 which may be engagedbehind a circumferential flange 137 on the tubular fitting 134 to holdthe fitting against removal. It will be apparent that with theconstruction described, the insertion of the tubular fitting 134 intothe intake member 104 of the blower causes the full suction -of theblower to be applied to the hood 121. Accordingly, although this hood isrigidly mounted and not in contact with the floor, escape of the sawdustfrom the hood is prevented by the strong current of air entering beneaththe rim of the hood.

When the machine is provided with the end drum and used for treatingfloor surfaces along walls and the like, it is desirable to have theaxle 11 as far forward toward the drum as possible, and to lock thesuperstructure against tilting on the longitudinal axis of the machine.For this purpose, the base plate 37 is provided near its forward endwith an adjustable screw 138 which carries a block 139 at its lower end,this block having a U-shaped groove inits circumference. Mounted on thecarrier 12 is a plate 141, in the upper end of which is adjustablymounted a screw 142 having a pointed end 143 which is adapted to enterthe U-shaped groove in the block 139. By turning the crank handle 44 inthe proper direction, the axle may be moved forward until the end of thescrew 142 enters the block 139 and this locks the superstructure againstswinging movement about rod 14 as an axis. By regulation of the screw138 up or down relative to the base plate, the machine is levelled sothat the end drum will cut evenly across its entire face.

It will be seen from the detailed description of the embodiment of theinvention illustrated that the new machine has many features of noveltywhich afford great convenience in operation and permit the machine to beused with utmost emciency. Regulation of the numerous parts is readilyobtained and the machine can be quickly and easily adjusted for bestworking conditions. The machine operates without discharging a largeamount of sawdust into the room as has heretofore been the case withsanding machines of this type. In the present machine, the sawdust ispicked up and delivered to the co1- iecting bag regardless of whetherthe machine is used with the main drum or the sanding drum. The new hoodwhich rests in contact with the floor insures that there will be amaximum pickup of the dust and in the case of the small end drum hood,the application of the full suction of the blower to the small hoodachieves the same result.v The adjustability of the handle permitsdiiferent workmen to operate the machine with the utmost convenience,and since the motor is readily removable and constitutes about half theweight of the machine, the removal of the motor permits the machine to-be carried without difficulty from floor to floor. In the machines asheretofore constructed with the motor rigidly secured in place, theweight of the average machine is such that it cannot be carried up anddown stairs by a single workman. The present machine is not only lighterin weight than prior machines designed for the same work, but inaddition the removal of the motor cuts in half the load that the workmanmust carry at one time.

What I claim is:

1. In a sanding machine, a base, a rolling support for the base, anupward extension from the base provided with la pivot rod, a motorhaving a slotted member adapted to straddle said rod. and means forlocking said member against release from said rod.

2. In a sanding machine, a base, a rolling support for the base, anupward extension from the base, a motor, a plate attached to the motorcasing, a pivot rod mounted on the base, said plate being slotted tostraddle said rod with the motor lying at one side of the rod, and meanson the base for adjusting the position of the motor with reference tothe rod.

3. In a sanding machine, a pair of sanding drums, a hood enclosing eachdrum, each hood having an opening through which the drum operates, a,blower having an intake fitting with a pair of openings, a conduitconnected to one hood and to said fitting at one of said openings, and aconduit connected to the other hood and having an end receivable in theother opening, said end of the conduit when in place in its openingserving to close the other opening.

4. In a sanding machine, a pair of sanding drums, a hood enclosing eachdrum, each hood having an opening through which the drum operates, ablower having an intake fitting with a pair of openings, a door for oneopening, a conduit connected to one hood and to the tting at the otherof said openings, a conduit connected to the other hood and having anend receivable in the first opening when said door i: opened, said endclosing the said opening, and means on the door for engaging saidconduit inserted in the door opening and operable to hold it in place. y

5. In a sanding machine, a horizontal shaft supported from the surfaceto be treated by rollers thereon, a frame mounted on said shaft andtiltable about the axis of the shaft, a base member mounted on the frameand tiltable at right angles to the direction in which the frame istiltable, mechanism carried by the base member, said base member andmechanism being unbalanced and tending to tilt, and an adjustableresilient means for resisting the tilting movement.

ROBERT A. PONSELLE.

